Software | Bay Geeks Computer Repair Services

June 30, 2009

FAQ: Making sense of the Windows 7 upgrade options

Filed under: Software — Tags: microsoft, windows 7, windows 7 upgrade — admin @ 9:06 am

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While it’s true that Windows 7 doesn’t arrive on retail shelves and new PCs until October, Microsoft has announced two programs designed to give a head start those that know they want the new operating system.

The Windows Upgrade Option, which runs through early next year, allows those who buy a new Vista PC to get a free copy of Windows 7 after it hits shelves in October. The other program which runs only through July 11, allows Windows XP and Vista users to pre-order a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium for $49 or Windows 7 Professional for $99.

Source

In the following question and answer document, CNET News’ Ina Fried walks you through both programs.

Who qualifies for the pre-order program?
Anyone running Windows XP or Windows Vista on their system, and whose PC is capable of running Windows 7, can upgrade that machine to Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional using the Windows pre-order program. However, the program is limited in both time (it runs through July 11 in the U.S.) and in terms of how many copies Microsoft will sell, although it has not said what that limit is exactly.

Can I buy one of the upgrades if I am running Windows Vista Ultimate?
A lot of folks have been asking this since Microsoft isn’t offering a discounted way to buy Windows 7 Ultimate. The answer is yes, one can buy an upgrade. However, any time one moves “down” in editions as part of an upgrade, it requires a clean installation of the operating system.

Will I get both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system?
Yes, although moving from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version (or vice-versa) also requires a clean installation of the operating system?

How does the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program work?
Microsoft’s other program, aimed at new PC buyers, offers those that by certain Vista machines between June 26 and the end of January have the ability to get a free copy of Windows 7.

The update will be provided after Windows 7 ships on Oct. 22. Different partners are handling it different ways, with some offering the upgrade on DVD, others via download and some PC makers offering both means.

Is it really free?
Well, Microsoft says it isn’t charging the computer makers or retailers, though in some cases the PC makers themselves are tacking on a shipping and handling charge for mailing the updates.

Do all Vista PCs qualify?
No. In general PCs with Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, or Vista Ultimate will qualify for the program. Buyers should check with their retailer or PC maker beforehand to make sure the PC is among those that qualifies.

Many of the PC makers have posted more information on their Web site, including Acer, Asus, Dell, Emachines,Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba.

What about Netbooks?

A few Netbooks may qualify, if they were running Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Home Premium. Microsoft is still looking at options for how folks running those systems will be able to load the operating system on their machines, which don’t have CD or DVD drives. (Netbooks running Windows XP, like other XP machines, can use an upgrade version of Windows 7, though users will have to do a clean installation of the operating system.)

Is there a limit to how many computers qualify for the update program?
Yes, the program covers a maximum of 25 PCs for an organization. Microsoft says the program is designed for consumers and small business and notes the limit has been lifted from five machines under a similar program with Windows Vista.

Gartner analyst Michael Silver said that big businesses should press computer makers to extend the upgrade to cover any large orders between now and when Windows 7 ships. Otherwise, the only way for businesses to be covered is to purchase one of Microsoft’s volume licensing programs for Windows, such as Software Assurance.

“Microsoft is encouraging organizations to buy (Software Assurance) and those that don’t will need to deal with these artificial, annoying rules,” Silver said.

What about those who bought Vista PC before June 26?
Again, I’ve gotten a lot of e-mail from owners of older Vista machines, including some that are only a few weeks or months old, wondering where their free copy of Windows 7 is. Well, the Upgrade Option only kicked in last week, so owners of older machines won’t be getting a free copy. The pre-order program probably offers the cheapest option as far as getting to Windows 7.

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June 11, 2009

IE8 Internet Explorer 8 is running slow

Filed under: Computer Repair, General, Software — Alden @ 2:15 pm

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So my cousin calls me when her computer was acting funny. I logged in and started working with her computer doing all of the normal updates and other optimizations that we do for folks and afterwards she was really impressed with how well it was working.

A couple weeks later, she calls again and has a different story… that the computer has been slow ever since I worked on it. I can’t say that’s the first time someone’s said that… but I don’t get that hardly at all. Once or twice maybe a few years back after installing a bloated, free version of CA Internet Security that Road Runner gives away for free (no, we don’t recommend that anymore!).

So with my reputation on the line I asked the normal questions… who, what, when, where etc… and all she does is surf the net, checks email through IE8 and basically her entire computing experience is done through the browser.

After doing some research, I came to find plenty of others who have the same issue. It’s a pretty straight forward fix and not only did it work for me, my wife and cousin… it’s worked for countless other clients who have the same issue.

In Windows XP:
1. Click Start, then click Run.
2. In the run dialog box, type cmd and press enter.
3. in the Command Prompt window, enter this text and press Enter:
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
4. Restart your computer

For Windows Vista/Windows 7
1. Type cmd in the Start menu Search box.
2. Right-click the Cmd shortcut that appears at the top of the search results list under programs, select “Run as administrator”
3. Choose Run As Administrator
4. In the Command Prompt window, enter this text and press Enter:
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
5. Restart your computer.

If this works for you, let me know in the comments below!

Source

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June 8, 2009

Microsoft Gives Windows 7 An Official Launch Date

Filed under: General, Software — admin @ 11:01 am

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Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed that customers will be able to buy Windows 7 from retailers and preinstalled on new PCs on Oct. 22. Yes, that’s right: After months and months of sticking to the “late 2009 or early 2010″ time frame, Microsoft has finally inscribed a Windows 7 launch date in the annals of history.
Oct. 22 will also forever be remembered as the beginning of the healing process for Microsoft and its customers, both of which are still scratching their heads over what happened with Windows Vista.

Microsoft says it’s on track to release Windows 7 to manufacturing in late July, which means PC makers will have plenty of time to load it onto new machines in time for the most economically crucial holiday season in years. In light of the beating Microsoft has taken in its last few fiscal quarters, and recent declines in Windows market share that have been attributed to the Vista debacle, a solid showing by Windows 7 would go a long way toward silencing critics.

Windows 7, currently in Release Candidate stage, looks plenty capable of banishing Vista’s by-now well-known performance and compatibility demons. And Microsoft will need that to happen to solidify its grip on the netbook market and convince customers to pay more for Windows 7 on netbooks than they’ve been paying for XP.

Fortunately for Microsoft, customers and companies that have been avoiding Vista by remaining in a Windows XP holding pattern will have plenty of motivation to migrate to Windows 7. For example, the virtualization features Microsoft has built into Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 represent a glittering lure for cost-conscious companies; and Windows 7’s improved deployment and management tools can quickly add up to measurable cost savings.

Of course, Microsoft will be launching Windows 7 into the teeth of one of the worst economic downturns in decades, so its commercial success will be anything but a slam dunk. Regardless of how good Windows 7 turns out to be, some companies may decide to hold off on upgrading simply because XP does what they need it to do.

Microsoft has acknowledged that it waited too long to release a follow-up to XP, and it’s enlisting the aid of solution providers to drum up interest in Windows 7 among small businesses that are perfectly happy running their day-to-day operations on XP.

Microsoft is working on many fronts to convey the implicit message that Windows 7 will succeed where Vista didn’t, and on Oct. 22, the market will begin making their own assessment — the only one that matters.

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